New helicopters for Romanian Intelligence Service
On 25 January 2023, the Romanian Ministry of Interior (MoI) signed a framework agreement with Airbus Helicopters Romania for six medium-heavy helicopters destined for the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI, Serviciul Roman de informatii).
The agreement, valued at € 160 million (excl VAT), includes the helicopters, systems, on-board equipment, software, spare parts and ground equipment.
Although the type of the helicopter was not published, Scramble Magazine assesses this must be the H215 Super Puma or the H155 Dauphin or a combination of these two types. Both types are produced with Airbus Helicopters Romania. In November 2015, Airbus Helicopters announced that all manufacturing activity of the AS332 Super Puma, which was redesignated as the H215 at that point, would be transferred to a new purpose-built final assembly facility in Brasov, Romania.
The SRI operates the following helicopters: two SA330L Puma, four SA365N Dauphin and one EC155B Dauphin. The Pumas are based at Bucuresti/Henri Coanda, the Dauphins at Bucuresti/Baneasa.
Photo by Airbus Helicopters Romania